Are the increasing religious polarisations driven by the mutual distrust between the ‘majority and the minority' communities, responsible for the outbreak of clashes in Hyderabad on Sunday?
Many believe so and point out the unusual spurt in religious events in Hyderabad over the past few years with both communities attempting to establish a physical and psychological supremacy over each other. They trace this pattern to the outbreak of communal clashes in old city two years ago following unwarranted competition over tying of banners and religious flags.
New challenge
The violence in March 2010 was also a sign of organised religious events throwing a new challenge to law-enforcing agencies. The police already went on record that organising religious programmes at public places on a massive scale had nearly doubled in past five years.
“None can be blamed for this. Everyone wants to exploit religious sentiments,” say city police officers.
Old city is the bastion of Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Mulsimeen party though Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) and the CPI (M) have been attempting to get some hold in the area. There is a general feeling among Hindus that the MIM, with the support of the ruling Congress party, is suppressing them on all fronts. Leaders of the majority community continue to allege that they were being given raw deal by the administration at all points including postings of police officers in old city. This allegation was frequently voiced by the Bharatiya Janata Party as well.
Projecting this, several right wing organisations like Bajrang Dal started polarisation of the majority community on a religious platform organising Navaratri festival, Sri Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti festivals. Pandals are erected, programmes are organised and processions are taken out as part of this.
On the other hand, number of massive rallies on Milad-un-Nabi and the jalsas associated with them also went up creating mutual distrust.
This transformed into a competition of organising religious events ostentatiously filling streets with flags and banners, and often ending in clashes. Notwithstanding attempts of police to take both the communities into confidence and clear the growing ill-feelings, the differences persist.
